Lilliputian Album Roundup #2: The Beach Boys - My Chemical Romance - Gupi - clipping. - Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Aaron Cartier

Added something to the "Fave Tracks" section: When a track is italicized, it indicates my favorite song on the album. If a track is bold, that means it's a certified diamond level banger, in that it has emotionally resonated with me on a deep level. I listen to these bold songs a lot.

Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys (1966)

Chamber Pop

8/10

fuck The Beatles

Fave Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, God Only Knows

The Black Parade - My Chemical Romance (2006)

Emo / Pop Punk / Power Metal

9.5/10

Why hasn't this been adapted for theatre yet? What we have here is a rock-operatic story of death and loss, but also the unshakable resolve to power into the abyss, and maybe even come out the other side. "The End" is the perfect tone setter, functioning like an expositive narrator in the world of The Black Parade. "Dead!" is a macabre but incredibly energetic jam that turns the process of dying into an ascension into a higher, lit-er realm. "This is How I Disappear" shows pop-punk all over its sleeve, while "The Sharpest Lives" is harder, grittier song back on the classic emo side.

"Welcome to the Black Parade" is maybe the most epic, sweeping, victorious emo anthem ever written. "I Don't Love You" is a lovely, somehow empowering breakup ballad. "House of Wolves" is not my cup of tea, and one of the reasons why this album isn't a 10/10, but I am impressed by the incorporation of blues elements. "Cancer" is just an incredibly sentimental tearjerker. Then a switchup into the sardonic, bitter "Mama". "Sleep" is the heaviest track outside of "Welcome to the Black Parade", although it trades glory for the sharp, oppressive mask of death. 

"Teeangers" is amazing as a break-up in the narrative and themes of the album, and fully embraces the blues. It's jarring in the best way possible, and from experience an excellent mosh-pit starter with an insanely catchy chorus. "Disenchanted" is a little too sentimental for me, which I realize is a bit silly to say about an emo-opera album, but the message feels overblown instead of personal. "Famous Last Words" is an excellent closer which recaptures some of the triumph of "Enter the Black Parade", which promises not just a legacy but an affirmation of life and reentry into the shining world of the living. 

It's too bad that the hidden track, "Blood", is frontloaded with a minute and a half of silence. It's intentionally super silly with a Broadway-style gimmick.

When I listen to this album, I envision a emo Rocky Horror Picture Show, that is riveting in its raw power and sense of purpose. Some of the anthems are legitimately inspiring, and if a couple tracks were cleaned up, it would be the perfect emo album.

Fave Tracks: The End., Dead!, Welcome to the Black Parade, I Don't Love You, Cancer, Teenagers, Famous Last Words, Blood

None - Gupi (2020)

Bubblegum Bass / Chiptune

7/10

Not much to say since this is my first serious foray into the Bubblegum Bass genre that's more of a pure distillation of the techno elements, without the major Pop infusion that is present in acts like 100 Gecs, Hannah Diamond, and Dorian Electra. It was pretty fun, though I don't know if I'm fully down with albums that are mostly instrumentals, despite how hype the instrumentals can be. I have to say though, "Thos Moser" is in the running for music video of the year.

Some of the vocal tracks are really hype though; is that an "Everytime We Touch" interpolation on "False Awakening"?

Fave Tracks: Plymouth Simulation, Driving Directly Into A Concrete Wall, Thos Moser, False Awakening

Splendor & Misery - clipping. (2016)

Hardcore Hip-Hop / Experimental Hip-Hop

8.5/10

Damn, what a cool ass album. It's projects like these that remind me what's possible in hip-hop, what can shatter the stereotypes and assumptions about this genre. A sci-fi concept album about a slave escaping from a mothership and then going on to see the Splendor & Misery of the wider galaxy. On top of that, frontman Diggs has immaculate lyrics, enunciation and flow on top of some real freaky and kicking beats. Throw in just some beautiful slave spirituals that also double as lore for the album's universe. What else could you want?

Special mention to "Air 'Em Out" for being everything I wish Nerdcore Hip-Hop was. Yes, it's about intergalatic travel and ASCII, but it's still as braggadocious and intimidating as any good Gangsta Rap.

Fave Tracks: All Black, Wake Up, Air 'Em Out, Story Five, A Better Place

'Alleuljah! Don't Bend! Ascend! - Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2012)
Experimental Post-Rock / Drone
7/10

why music gotta be so long

its like someone took prog rock and said, "these songs are too short and accessible"

still a fun listen

just havent developed a taste for drone yet

Fave Tracks: We Drift Like Worried Fire

Pop - Aaron Cartier (2019)

Melancholy Pop / R&B

8/10

The most obscured artist I've covered has come to me by way of Ska band 100 Gecs. Like the Gecs, Cartier has explored genres across his projects, from Hip-Hop to Experimental Electronica. This album sees Cartier venturing into a lowkey, sad Pop space. The first part of this album is intriguing if not always captivating. Highlights here are the 80's synthy dance "Too Late - nicopop" and the reggaeton-backed "Miami".

Cartier comes into his own in the latter half of the album, where Pop becomes both sensual and introspective. This part even adds in a sprinkle of Emo. The album finishes with "Boy", a magnificently sad and spacey song that somehow manages to be minimalist and yet evolves within itself to a powerful conclusion. Definitely one of my favorite songs of this year.

Pop shows a lot of promise and I eagerly await Cartier's next work. Here's hoping he gets he deservedly gets his name put on the map.

Fave Tracks: World is Watching, Accessory, Boy